There are many times when cats should not be treated with the same products as humans; however in treating UTI some of the homeopathic and natural substances that have stood humans in good stead are also superb choices to help promote feline urinary tract health. One of the better known substances used for both cats and humans is uva ursi, or bear berry, a member of the same family as manzanita.
Uva ursi is considered to be a superb disinfectant, diuretic, and antiseptic, and is used in both human and feline formulas when urinary and bladder issues are involved. At the low trace levels involved in homeopathic medication it is a great supplement for preventive therapy, and many vets and homeopathic practitioners recommend using uva ursi for cats as a way of maintaining a strong, germ free urinary environment.
The most common feline UTI infections are flare-ups of e. coli, transported to the urethra when your cat is grooming. A homeopathic product containing uva ursi is intended to clear out the infection before it can become entrenched. The antiseptic and diuretic properties of the plant work in tandem, simultaneously killing off germs and at the same time encouraging steady and heavy urination, flushing the germs down and out of the urethra rather than allowing them to move up the tubes to the bladder, and from there to the kidneys where an infection could cause rapid breakdown of renal function.
It isn’t hard to find a range of homeopathic products that combine uva ursi and other homeopathic supplements for your cat. Before starting any preventive or therapeutic regimen be sure to check with your veterinarian to make sure that the use is not counter indicated in your circumstances. You do not want to do accidental harm, and there are situations where uva ursi would be a poor choice indeed: for example a cat already suffering from extensive kidney damage could be overtaxed by the diuretic property of the supplement, causing even more rapid breakdown. But for most sound cats there is no reason to be deeply concerned.
Using a homeopathic preventive with their mild formulas to provide uva ursi for cats is likely to prove a safe, sensible, and low cost method of promoting your cat’s health and ensuring a sound urinary tract. Given in tiny, trace amounts, and small doses, the cost is low, the benefits often considered to be high, the products readily available, and the approach one in which support is given to natural physical traits already present and working towards your cat’s health.
Jeff Grill is an editor of the Cat Health Guide and has written hundreds of articles on feline health problems. See this site for more information on uva ursi for cats and other natural treatment options.
Cat Health Care: Information on Cats
